Invalid-bedstead



(No Model.) l i 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. P. A. KITTELL.

Invalid Bedstead'.

Patented April 12, I1881.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

FERDINAND A. KITTELL, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

INVALID-BEDSTEAD.

,SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,148, dated April 1 2, 1881.

Application filed September 16, V1880. (No model.)

To lall whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, FERDINAND A. KITTELL, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Invalid-Bedsteads and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which? Figure l is a side elevation of my improved bedstead. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the invention. Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are details, showing specific construction of parts.

This invention relates to the construction of bedsteads for use in hospitals, surgeries, sickrooms, and for the use of invalids generally.

Many people are temporarily bedridden from an accident or a disease of such a nature that, if placed in an ordinary bed, they cannot be moved, and the consequences are that in each case the bed-clothing must remain unchanged until the patient is convalescent ordies. This necessity is very disagreeable and unhealthy, not only to the patient, but to the attendants. More than that, it is productive of numerous bed-sores, which, if given an opportunity for proper treatment, could soon and easily be controlled.. These bed-sores are a fruitful source of suffering to patients afdioted with such disorders or injuries as preclude their movement whilein bed, and in a great many instances convalescence is held in abeyance by the irritable and nervous condition into which they put the patient.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a bedstead in which the 'removal and change of the bed-clothin g is rendered an easy task, and the exposure of bed-sores to the healing influence of fresh air and access to them for proper treatment are arrived at in a most convenient manner.

To these and other ends my invention consists in fitting an ordinary bedstead with an extra frame on top of the usual frame which supports the mattress, providing it with removable bands or straps, which can be passed under the body of the patient while lying in bed, and suitable means of elevating said extra frame, whereby the occupant ofthe bed may be hoisted up without causing the slightest change of position, the bed-clothing can be changed, and the straps or bands (one or or more) may be removed or drawn aside for treatment of any part of the body.

My invention further consists in the ecnstruction and combination of parts, substantially as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, A A designate the posts, and B the frame, of an ordinary single bed.

The mattress is not shown; but it would occupy its usual place on the slats. An extra frame is set above frame B, and consists of the sides a a and ends b b, the sides a at their extremities being tenoned and set in the grooves c in posts A. Ends `b b are placed between the sides a, a, and form stiiening-pieces, to prevent the collapse of the sides. The posts A are at their tops braced together by the side pieces, C C, and the end pieces, D D. The upper edge of the sides a of the movableframe are furnished with a number of studs or pins, e, as shown.

I construct a number of bands, E, ot' ducking or other material, of a width from six to eighteen inches and a length a little less than the width ofthe bed. At the ends ofthese bands E, I firmly attach the straps d, one at each corner and one or more between them` as shown in Figs. 3 and .6. Strapsd are perforated withaseries of holes, and are hooked onto the studs c, the extra holes being for the purpose of taking up any stretching that may occur. Thus constructed, the frame ay a b b, with the bands E, forms a sort of cot-bed, upon which, with suitable appliances, the patient may be lifted up.

In each end of the sides a of the extra frame a slot is cut, and in this slot is set a sheave, f, as shown in detail in Fig. 4. At corresponding locations in the top frame, O G, are ,cut vertical holes, as in same figure.

' To the top frames, C, are tted the bearings g, and in leach of these is fitted a sheave, h, so placed that its outer periphery is in vertical line with the corresponding hole in the frame C. f

A roller, H, isjournaled in the ends D D of the top frame at their center, and thus lies with its axis longitudinally of the hed. To

this roller H are attached, in any suitable manner, the respective ropes 7c, which pass thence each over one of the sheaves h, thence down through frame C to the sheave j', set in extra- IOO frame sides a, under it, and up again toy frame '0, to which the end is fastened in any suitable manner.

On the shaft of roller H, outside or inside the end piece, E', of the top frame, is secured a large spur-wheel, I, and with this meshes a small pinion, J, to which is attached or fitted a crank or hand wheel, K, as shown in detail in Fig. 3. By rotating the crank K a very slight exertion will suffice to revolve roller H, whose reverse movement is prevented by a gravitating-pawl, m, acting on the ratchet n, which also is fixed to the shaft of roller H.

The operation is as follows: When it becomes desirable to change the bed clothes or have access to the body of the patient the bands E are slipped down under the patient and the straps d hooked to the studs e. Then the crank K is rotated, the roller H revolves and winds up the cords or ropes k, and the frame a a b b is steadily and gently elevated to any required distance, carrying the patient along with it. The movement is not perceived, or scarcely so, and even the torturing pangs of iuilammatory rheumatism are not in the slightest degree aggravated by the motion. The ratchet and pawl preserve the frame at any height, so that the bed-clothes may be changed and the bed aired sufficiently. At the same time the straps may be unhooked, one or more at a time, bed-sores dressed, and then, replacing these straps, the attendant may proceed to others, until the patient has been made as comfortable as possible.

If desired, the central band may be wide and have a hole in it, so that the patient may have the natural discharges without the slightest inconvenience while in the elevated frame.

While I have shown and described specic details of construction, I wish it to be dis-a tinctly understood that I by no means conne myself to such, as many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the essential spirit of my invention.

The studs e and perforated straps cl may be replaced by staples or rods and straps having buckles, so that after placing in position the attendant may tighten a band by simply pulling on the strap.

The outer ends of the ropes k may be grasped by an adjustable clamp, so that if they stretch the slack may be taken up as required. Such a device is shown in Fig. 5, where the ropeend passes between two eccentrically-pivoted segments, which clamp the rope more tightly when the strain increases.

Instead of placing the studs e all on the frame a a, the latter may be titted with two hinged supplementary frames, the head-frame p p p and the foot-frame q q q, each consisting of three sides, hinged at their point of junction with the frame a a. Frame p is provided with the pivoted supports r, which drop into the racks s when the frame p is elevated, so as to maintain the head and shoulders of the patient in the same relation to the body as when resting on the pillows of the bed. Frame q has a reverse knee-joint, as shown, the extreme end of the frame catching in the racks t, so as to give the legs of the patient a comfortable position when desired. rlhe patient may have the benets ot both these adjustable supplementary fram es without calling upon the hoisting attachments at all. The studs e will be placed on these frames p and g, instead of the frame a.

For surgical purposes I attach to the roller H an extra'single rope, t, as in Figs. l and 3, carrying the fracture-box w, for the treatment of broken legs. Fracture-box w will be used for maintaining the broken leg in the usual elevated position during the process of healing. When it now becomes necessary to elevate the patient upon the extra frame the fracture-box will be elevated also, thus maintaining the relative elevation ofthe broken limb at all times. Similar appliances may be fitted tor broken arms.

The bands E may be of any suitable material, and may be plain or padded; or several different sets might be provided with each bed.

By attaching the straps on one side of the bed to the studs on the extra frame, and those on the other side to the usual fixed frame ofv the bedstead provided with studs for the purpose, the patient may be very readily turned over without handling him at all, as the movable frame will rise on rotating the crank and cause the bands to assume an inclination from one side of the bed to the other, thus gradually rolling the patient over to one side or to the other, according to the setting.

I claim as my inventionl. In an invalid-bedstcad, the combination ot' the grooved posts A, tenoned frame a ab b,

and detachable cross-bands E, with the upperframe, O, roller H, sheaves f and h, ropes k, and suitable means for revolving said roller, substantially as described.

2. In an invalid-bedstead having the described movable frame with detachable crossbands and means for hoisting the same, the combinationfwith the h'oistingroller thereof, of the extra rope t, for attachment to a fracture-box, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand..

FERDINAND A. KITTELL.

Witnesses: Y

J AMEs J. MOTIGHE, T. J. MCTIGHE.

IOO

IIS 

